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What does an Orthopedist do?
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
An orthopedist is a doctor who specializes in treating individuals who have medical conditions that involve the bones, joints, nerves, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Also known as an orthopedic surgeon, a person in this field typically works to diagnose and care for patients who have suffered such things as broken bones and torn ligaments and tendons. Essentially, his job is treating disorders and conditions of the parts of the body that allow movement. An individual in this field may choose to focus on setting bones, opt to correct deformities, or treat individuals who have suffered some type of trauma.
While doctors who work in orthopedics may be best known for helping people with broken bones and treating individuals who need joints replaced or repaired, especially in the knee and hip area, these doctors are trained to do a lot more. Doctors in this field also provide treatment to straighten patients' spines and use prosthetics in treating those who have lost limbs. Some orthopedists work with patients who have deformed hands or feet, and some decide to focus only on injures that stem from participation in sports. There are some who specialize in treating disabled and injured children while others may focus on treating tumors, infections, and degenerative diseases.
An orthopedist typically diagnoses patients and uses both medical and surgical techniques to treat them. He may work closely with other doctors who refer patients to him, reviewing the referred patients’ records and sharing treatment options with the referring physician. A person in this field may also examine patients and order a range of tests, such as x-rays and other types of imaging procedures. He may coordinate a patient’s post-surgery care as well, meeting with his patients to monitor their recovery. An orthopedist may maintain a private office or work in a hospital, surgical center, or sports-medicine clinic; a person in this field may even opt to become a college professor or devote his career to research rather than the treatment of patients.
A person who decides to become an orthopedist usually has many years of preparation ahead of him. After completing high school, a person who wants to become an orthopedist usually goes on to attend college for four years before completing four years of medical school training. Following medical school, an orthopedist typically completes residency training that lasts for five years. When an orthopedist decides to pursue a specialty, training can last even longer. An aspiring orthopedist may spend an additional year on specialty training.
Nicole Madison
Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a PracticalAdultInsights writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.
Learn more...
Nicole Madison
Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a PracticalAdultInsights writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.
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![An orthopedist may diagnose and care for patients with broken bones.]()
By: kameelAn orthopedist may diagnose and care for patients with broken bones. -
![Some orthopedists specialize in prosthetics.]()
By: HBKSome orthopedists specialize in prosthetics. -
![Orthopedists perform x-rays and other imaging procedures.]()
By: andreaxtOrthopedists perform x-rays and other imaging procedures. -
![Knee injuries are one of the most commonly experienced problems in orthopedic medicine.]()
By: DirimaKnee injuries are one of the most commonly experienced problems in orthopedic medicine. -
![Orthopedists provide treatment to straighten patients' spines.]()
By: freshideaOrthopedists provide treatment to straighten patients' spines. -
![An orthopedist may treat patients suffering from severe back injuries.]()
By: Syda ProductionsAn orthopedist may treat patients suffering from severe back injuries. -
![An orthopedist will likely be a qualified surgeon, capable of performing surgery on orthopedic patients.]()
By: GuerraGPhotoAn orthopedist will likely be a qualified surgeon, capable of performing surgery on orthopedic patients. -
![An orthopedist may treat individuals who have lost limbs.]()
By: Barabas AttilaAn orthopedist may treat individuals who have lost limbs. -
![Some orthopedists may have more experience working with the brittle bones of seniors than others.]()
By: Fotoluminate LLCSome orthopedists may have more experience working with the brittle bones of seniors than others. -
![After orthopedic surgery, a patient may be required to use a walker while rehabilitating.]()
By: Tyler OlsonAfter orthopedic surgery, a patient may be required to use a walker while rehabilitating. -
![An orthopedist may correct problems involving the bones in the knee joint.]()
By: jovannigAn orthopedist may correct problems involving the bones in the knee joint. -
![Individuals suffering from a broken arm or wrist may seek the help of an orthopedist.]()
By: lightwavemediaIndividuals suffering from a broken arm or wrist may seek the help of an orthopedist.
Discussion Comments
My mother has been seeing an orthopedist about her osteoarthritis for a few years now. What basically happens is that there is a lot of wear and tear on the cartilage surface and not enough repair happening due to a disease.
For my mother she sees her orthopedist in order to deal with the pain and for articular cartilage repair treatment. While this treatment isn't perfect it has been delaying her need for a knee replacement, which I can imagine is going to be pretty painful. This technique is fairly new and has been proven to work well. You'll need a really good orthopedic surgeon though if you want to try it out.
I had to see an orthopedist at a sports-medicine clinic after I tore a tendon in my leg. It was very painful and while my doctor was able to give me enough medicine that it dulled the pain, I had to see the orthopedist to actually get my leg fixed up.
I ended up having surgery on my leg and it took quite awhile to recover. I was on crutches for close to 2 months and the physical therapy was pretty intense. My orthopedist told me that if I didn't practice using my leg after it healed I would have trouble walking. I guess when you are off a foot for so long it takes time to get back into the groove of things.
@sweetPeas - I think you're right about most orthopedists having specialties. In addition to the specialties you mentioned, there are orthopedic specialists who work mostly on one part of the body.
There are hand orthopedist surgeons. They fix joints in your hand, wrist joint and bone problems, and ankle injuries.
Another specialty is a knee orthopedic doctor. He surgically replaces knees, treats ligament injuries, and dislocations.
Spine orthopedists do a lot of different procedures on parts of the spine.
I'm guessing that most doctors who want to be orthopedists probably train for a specialty. There are so many new surgical techniques for repairing bones and joints. And there is the whole new branch of sports medicine. It would be very difficult to be proficient in treating all orthopedic areas.
I have problems with my feet, so I go to a podiatrist, who treats only feet. They may do surgery on bunions and bone spurs, take casts of your feet for orthodics and prescribe conservative treatment.
I like to go to specialists whenever I can.
When my nephew was in high school he was very active in football. During one game, he suffered from a knee injury and had to see an orthopedist physician as part of his care.
This made such an impact on him, that he decided he wanted to go to med school and become an orthopedist surgeon.
After his knee injury he didn't go out for football again, but he continued on with his medical plans.
Today he is in medical school and has a few more years to go before he realizes his dream. It is hard to say if he would have pursued this career if he hadn't been injured, but I know he will make a very good doctor.
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